Paper-handling machinery



NOV. 11, 1952 DAVls 2,617,647

PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Filed March 24, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet l KennethM. Dd via mm. \m

' i 1 fflldfimummurjmw PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Filed March 24, 1949 4 3Kenneth/W. D4

ll Sheets-Sheet 2 mac/Mom v ATTOR N EY NOV. 11, 1952 K -M, DAVIS2,617,647

PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Filed March 24, 1949 11 Shets-Sheet s IN V ENTOR.

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Nov. '11, 1952 K. M; DAVIS 2,617,647

PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Filed March 24, 1949 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 $7 I ea3 gwue/wtm Ken neth M. Davis 8% WWW.

ATTORNEY Nov. 11, 1952 K. M. DAVIS 2,617,647

PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Filed March 24, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Kenna fhM De; vile ATTOR N EY Nov. 11, 1952 K. M. DAVIS 2,617,647

PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Fil ed March 24, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTOR NEY K. M. DAVIS PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Filed March 24, 1949 llSheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 11, 1952 K. M. DAVIS PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY ll Sheets-Sheet 8Filed March 24, 1949 l l l I Kenneth Nov. 11, 1952 K. M. DAVIS PAPERHANDLING MACHINERY ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 24, 1949 Kennath M Dd.vi

ATTORNEY Nov. 11, 1952 DAVIS 2,617,647

PAPER HANDLING MACHINERY Filed March 24, 1949 ll SheetsrSheet 10HVVENTUR.

Kenna H7 M Di: viz

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF 2,617,647 I C E 2,617,647 PAPER-HANDLINGMACHINERY Kenneth M. Davis, Washington, D. 0. Application March 24,1949, Serial No. 87,323

I 11 Claims. (01. 270-59) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the UnitedStates for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royaltythereon in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 30, 1928(ch. 460. 45 Stat. L. 4.67). i

This invention relates to paper handling machinery, generally, and,specifically, to means adapted for attachment to a standard sheetfoldingmachine to effect the stacking of two or more sheets-usually in multiplefolded or signature form-prior to the final folding operation so thatthe latter, in effect, results in the insertion or folding in of onesignature inside another.

An object of the invention is to provide attachment means of the kindindicated which effect the stacking and insertion functions describedduring the uninterrupted course and without modification of the foldingoperations of the machine. v

Another object is to provide such means adapted to be readily attachedto a folding machine and as readily removed therefrom when the stackingrequired. v

Another object is to provide means for stacking sheets or signatures insuch fashion as to avoid the trapping of air therebetween and thedisplacement and wrinkling of paper and jamming of machinery that resultfrom such trapping of air.

Another object is to provide means of the character indicated forstacking sheets in continuous succession from a single line of advancingsheets, and also for stacking sheets in alternating relation from adouble line of advancing sheets.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel switch meansfor effecting automatically the assembling of paper sheets orsignatures, as described.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

and insertion operations are not switch and related means of the presentinvention associated therewith; v

Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 65 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is adetail view, with parts broken away, on the line 1-1 ofFigure 5.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of sheet-stacking apparatus of the inventionassociated with a sheet-carrying table, the latter shown frag-,mentally.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a rear elevational view of the solenoid-actuated stop orgate unit forming part of this invention.

Figure 11 is a fragmental conventional view of one of the paper-foldingstages or sections of a buckle-fold type machine, showing the progressthe of a sheet through one folding operation, includ- Figure 1 is adiagrammatic top plan view of a I present invention associated therewithfor carrying out the same sequence of operations as in Figure 1, themachine proper being shown somewhat conventionally and partly in crosssection.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the use of theinvention as employed for stacking sheets in staggered or alternaterelation from a double line of advancing sheets.

Figure 4. is a top plan view similar to Figure 2, but showing theattachment means for stacking from a double line of advancing sheets.

Figure 5 is a fragmental top plan view of a sheet-carrying table formingpart of a paper folding machine and having a sheet-actuated ing itsmovement from one level'to the next.

Figure 12 is a detail, top plan view of a sheetmoving or rotor unit, ofthe present invention.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional View on the line |3--l3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view taken on the line M-M of Figure 12.

Figure 1-5 is a plan view showing a selector switch assembly of thepresent invention shown in open position.

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing the switch in closedposition.

Figure 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a portion of theselector switch showing the contact points in closed position, as inFigure 16.

Figure 18 is a front view of the pawl and ratchet and the associatedcontact elements dis- {closed in the preceding three figures.

Figures 19 and 20 are detail perspective views showing the contactmembers of the actuator switch in closed and open position,respectively.

Figure 21 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit employed in thepresent invention.

Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view on line 22-22 of Figure 4.

Paper folding machines, as at present generally used, are either of thebuckle-fold or the knife-fold type. The buckle-fold machine operates onthe principle of passing a sheet of paper through a series of rollersand, at one point, causing the sheet to buckle intermediate its length,at which points the pape-r is nipped or engaged by a succeeding pair ofrollers and thus folded. This folding operation may be repeated two orthree times at 'a given stage or fold section of the machine beforebeing carried on to another similar stage or section. In the knifefoldtype of machine, the folding operation is effected by a knife member,which descends across an intermediate portion of a sheet and introducesthe same into position between a pair of rollers for folding the sheet.

'Ine. presentinvention may be used with other types of machine, but isillustrated herein as anplied to the buckle-fold type, for example, theCleveland Model-K Folder. The principal elements and operations of thismachine, as they are related to the present invention, will first bedisclosed. V

The machine comprises an initialtable or carrying section l which isprovided with aseries of diagonally-disposed rollers 2 rotated in acommon direction by suitable means not shown. The table I has a guidebar 3 disposed thereon immediately above the rollers 2. Said bar servesas a contact for one side edge of each sheet 4 of paper disposed on therollers 2. The sheets 4 are advanced toward a folding section indicatedgenerally at A where, as illustrated herein, each sheet is folded onceand then passed on downwardly to a succeeding carrying table disposed atright angles with the table I. Figure 11 indicates conventionally one ofthe fold sections, such as section A, comprising a vertically-relatedseries of rollers 5, 6, 8, 9, II], II, and I2 whose directions ofrotation are indicated by the small arrows associated therewith.

A sheet of paper, indicated at I3, is shown as entering between the toppair of rollers 5 and 6, as at I4. From here the sheet proceeds betweenrollers 6 and directed thereto by a defleeting member l5. Thereafter thesheet is projected into a space It between two plates l1 and I8 untilthe sheet abuts a stop member I9. The latter causes the sheet to buckleintermediate its ends and thebuckled portion is nipped or engaged by therollers 1 and 8 which advance the folded sheet downwardly betweenrollers 8 and 9. Suitable deflecting members indicated at and 2|determine the course of the sheet into position for engagement by. thelowermost rollers 9 and Ill. These project the sheet into positionbetween the small pair of rollers II and I2, which advance the sheet, asindicated by the arrow, along a suitable support 24 to a set of rotatingdiscs or wheels 11 which complete the movement of the sheet onto asubsequent sheet-carrying table '25.

The sheets are in a like manner carried on table 25 to another foldingsection B similar to section A, above described, and thence to a thirdsheet-carrying table 3| from whence the folded sheet units or signaturesare deposited on a suitable receiving table or platform 21.

The foregoing operations are common to buckle-fold machines generallyand, inasmuch as these are well known, it will be unnecessary to furtherdetail their make-up and operation except insofar as the presentinvention is cooperatively related thereto.

Reference is now made to Figures 1 and 2, illustrating the sequence ofoperations and the means employed where a series ofidentically printedsheets 4, such as blank or ruled sheets, is being run, and where,accordingly, the sheets may be stacked in successive order from asingle'line of advancing sheets. Sheets 4 pass along table andthrough'the folding seciton A to the second sheet-carrying table 25,disposed at right angles to table On table 25 a guide bar 28, of thesame character as the presently-known guide bar 3, is positioned,against which a lateral edge of the sheet 4, now folded in half, comesinto contact. The diagonal rollers 29- (Fig. 2) .carry this sheet to theleft as seenin Figures 1 and 2, and beneath a switch lever 30 to thenext folding sectionB, from whence. each sheet, after a furtherfold, is'advanced to..the

third sheet-carrying table 3|, which'is also p'ro vided with a guide bar35. On table 3|, accord-- ing to the present invention, asolenoid-oper-- ated stop unit 32 is positioned to block the advance ofone sheet, indicated at 33, until one: or more subsequent sheets, suchas sheet 34,. has been deposited thereon and moved into reg-- istrationtherewith. This blocking operation occurs when a sheet 4 passes beneathand clearsthe switch lever 30, whereupon the solenoid unit- 32 isde-energized and the stop returned to block-' ing position, as will befurther described. The: stacking or deposit of a second sheet on top ofthe one held by the stop occurs at this interval. Then the switch lever30 is contacted by a succeeding sheet 4 causing energizing of unit 32and raising of the stop which permits the stacked sheets to pass on.After the passage of succeeding sheet 4 beyond the switch, the lattercauses the stop unit 32 to return to blocking position.

After the desired number of sheets has been assembled at the stop unit32, the latter releases the stacked sheets which pass as a unit to athird folding section C. The folded signature 36 is thereafter moved outonto the final receiving table or platform 21.

In greater detail, the means for carrying out the stacking andinterfolding or insertion of sheets advanced in a single line, as inFigures 1 and 2, comprise the guide bars 28 and 35, suitably positionedjust above their respective sheetcarrying tables 25 and 3|. Each guidebar has a vertical flange 31 (Fig. 7) and a horizontal flange 38, theouter edge portion of the latter being turned somewhat upwardly asindicated at 39 to obviate any interference therewith of a sheetadvanced beneath the horizontal flange 38. The vertical flange 31, asindicated in Figure 6, is of scallop formation along its bottom edge toprovide sheet-contacting extensions 313 depending between the diagonalrollers beneath. The horizontal flange 38 of guide bar 28 may beprovided with flanged openings or sockets |2| in which small sphericalweights, such as marbles 311 may be placed for hearing against andstabilizing the sheets as they are moved along the sheet-carryingrollers 29. It may be pointed out that the diagonal disposition of theseand the other similar rollers shown is, in accordance with well-knownpractice, such as to actuate the sheets not only forwardly but somewhatlaterally in the direction of the associated guide bar so that thesheets are moved and maintained in linear succession.

The guide bar 28 has associated therewith, adjacent the left-hand end, asupport shaft 4| passing through a block 42 which is attached to theguide bar '28. For the double-line operation to be later described,shaft 4| and related parts are attached to guide bar 35. A set screw43!! (Fig. 5) in the block 42 secures the latter to flange 31. Athreaded wing bolt 44 in block 42 is adapted to be tightened againstshaft 4| for securing the latter in adjusted positions. Shaft 4| has anarm 45 mounted at its outer end, for pivotal adjustment thereon asindicated at 46 (Fig. 5). An electrical switch unit 41 is mounted forlongitudinal adjustment on arm 45 by means of a slotted top stud 48through which arm 45 passes and into which a threaded bolt 49 enters forimpingement against said arm. The switch lever 30, previously mentioned,is attached at one side of switch unit 41 (Figs. 5 and 6) and extendsdownwardly at a slant in the direction in which paper sheets passtherebeneath, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 5 memes? Depending onthe-size of; the. sheets, theiswitch unit. and. its lever'30'are, by theseveral adjustments described above, disposedin suitable position forcontact androperation by the sheets; A characteristic position isshowninFigure 5. The switch is electrically connected with the stop unit32" for actuating: the same: and. the: details in; that relation willzbedescribed hereafter Reference: is. particularly made to; Figures 2, 4,

8, 9., andlOJin connectiOn'with;stopunit..32. The

guide bar 35 on table 3|, as already mentioned, is similar in form toguide bar 28 on table.:25 and is disposed just above the diagonalrollers; 591015 the secondsheet. carrying table 3.1. The, stop unit 32is mountedon guide. bar 351 and is; shown as made up of a support arm6Dv formedat one end with an extension 6Iv (Fig; slotted; as at 62 forslidably engaging vertical flange: 31 of said guide bar. A. set screw 63in extension 61, is adapted to-bertightenedljagainst fiange.3.1 of'guidebar 35 for maintaining arm' 60 in longitudinallyadjustable vpositionsrelative to the? guide bar. Arm. 69; isnformed witha longitudinallyextending. slot 64 (Fig; 8) for receiving; the threaded shanks, 65' and6 6 ofapair of lugs,,61 and 68, respectively. Said: threaded shankspassupwardly, through a pair of lateral: brackets 69 and 10', secured tooppositesides of a cylindrical SOIBIlOldi unit 1 I havingv a closed top12. Nuts 11.- and 1-8- engagerthe ends of threaded shanks. 65 and 66and: bear against, said brackets. The solenoicli unit thus mounted: on;arm 6.9 is adjustable: longitudinally thereof, by; means: of; the slotand lug, connections described. A solenoid: arm;13 ispositioned. forverticalreciprocationinjzits; casing andicomprises: a threaded upper endprojecting. outwardly of. casing: top:- 12" and; having; thereon a:pairof. nuts 14 and 15: (Fig; 10): foryadiustably limiting downe ward?projection of thessolenoidfarma Thetl'atter extends-through slot 63' ofsupportingiarmtfli and. has; secured? to? its; lower: end a. stop member16 which; when: the solenoid: armimovesdownward 132;. issprojected'into, the space between twolofthe sheet=carryingz rollersv 59- forblocking, adv-ance of paper sheets,. as will; be.-f.'urther described.

As; illustrated inLFigures 1 and 2, a sheet of-v paper; is hel'dbiockedzby said stop: until a subsequent sheet is positioned'on the'und'ersheet. The second sheet is; initially deposited in partially overlying:relation. on the blocked sheet bymeans ofralsetiofrotating-discs orwheel's:18'-(Fi'g; 2)- on table225, butithe further movement of the"sheet into; fulli overlying relation with the: first sheet isxnotpossibletthrough'. the medium of the'diagonalrollersi 5f9rsincethelatter-contact the top sheet" to. a limitedaextent'onlyl Consequently,it ismecessanysto provide 1 means for moving 'the -top sheet; into suchvposition; For thisv purpose, the invention contemplates the use ofrotor: units 19 and1892. These units are identical, so thatdescriptioniofione will'sufiice for: both. Inthisconnection, referencewill bemade to Figures'SZRQ, 12,,13; and: 14'. Each unit. comprisesasupport block 8|,slotted1as at 82 for receiving: thevertical 'flangeetflofguide bars35. Set screws 8311 held the blockremovably: in positiononsaid fiangel The-block. 912 is formed? with aniinterior recess 84opening at thebottomofitheblock and communieating: with" the: top:thereof through a: restricted opening 85.. A. swivel. memberwflt ispositioned inth'erecess 84, and comprises an extension 81 projectingthrough: the openingtfi This extension has anannular groove 86 forslidably. receiving positioned for rotational movement, and preeludedfrom vertical actuation in the. support block6I. A- set screw I03projects through: block 8| into contact withextension 81 of .swiveLmemeber, 86. for holding thelatter in selected positions;

Swivel. member 86 is recessed, as. at 9.0;, and through this recessthere passes anelongated strip 9| having secured at its respective. endsa depending journal block, 92' and: 93, the former vertically slidablein: recess 99. The blocks: are

provided with ball bearings 94 and 95, through which 3;: shaft 96extends, in parallel, spaced alignment with strip 9|. One end ofsaidshaft; as seen-in Figures 8 andz9; extends on one sideoffiange-31ofrguidebar 35 and has secured thereon apaper-sheet-contacting wheel 91 providedrwith a softnon-slip tire or,rim 98. The other end of shaft, 96 extends beyond the opposite side offlange 31 and has secured thereon a drive wheel 99 which contacts one ofthe rollers 59 and is rotated thereby for driving the shaft 96 andimparting rotation to the paper-contacting wheel 91. A spring stripIOOhasone end secured as at I DI (Fig. 1-2) tothe top of block 8|, theother end I92 bearing resiliently against strip 9| for urging theadjacent end of shaft 96 downwardly whereby wheel 99 is maintained ingood drive relation-with one of the rollers 59.

For applying a selected. degree of downward resilient pressure on wheelshaft 96, a. threaded adjustment bolt I01 projectsslidablythroughextension B5into recess 9,0 (Figsl 13 and.1 4),. Bolt 56.1 has areduced. inner. end Ifll extending through an, opening I 05 in strip 9|and impinging against shaft 96. A. retaining pin I96 projectsthroughsaid shaft end I94 beneathstrip9l. An expansion spring II 9encircles boltIll3-within, the recess 99, bearing against strip, M and.theitop of said recess,.respectively. The upper part of adjustment boltIflText'end's above. block 8| and is there threadedly engaged by anadjusting nut I98 and a lock nut I09. Upward and downward movement ofadjusting nut I08 respectively decreases and increases the resilient,pressure ofreduced shaft end I04 against shaft 96 resulting from theaction of expansion spring I16;

It will be seen in Figures 8 and19 that certain of the flanged openingsI2I in guide bar 35 are connectedin pairs'by diagonally extending slots1 II and through these slots the lower portions of sheet contactingwheels 91 are adapted'to project for bearing against a paper sheet NZ tobe moved forwardinto contactagainst the stop member 16;

In Figures?) and'lmeans are disclosed for precluding pressing of thesheets downwardly between rollers 59 as a resultof the pressure ofthesheet contactingwheels 91. These means comprise brackets 59 securedv atintervals; as at 51', to the vertical flange 31 of guide bar 35 and eachprojecting beneath the latter, asat 52; and havingsecured thereto, asat'53', a mounting clip' 54 whereon a small roller 55 is mountedv asat.5.6. Each of' these small rollers is positionedbetween two ofthe'largerollers 59 inthe same level" as the upper surface line of thelatter. The sheets, therefore, as their lateral edge portions pass alongbeneath the horizontal flange 38 of'guid: bar' 35, contact these smallrollers 55 and are thereby prevented from being pressed downwardlybetween the large rollers 59, and possibly disingthe solenoid arm, acontraction spring I22 is provided, having one end secured to aprojecting strip I23 (Figs. 8 and 9) attached to the top 12 of solenoid1|, and its other end connected to the transverse section II1 of abracket H6. The latter also comprises a lateral section II8pivotally'connected intermediate its length, as at I I9, to lug 68 (Fig.10) An angle bracket I26 is conneclted, as by a nut I21, to the upperend of solenoid arm 13, and comprises afoot I25 through which a verticalrod I24 passes slidably. The lower end of this rod is offset as at I3Iand projects through an aperture in the outer end of said lateralbracket section H8, being secured thereto as by a cotter pin I32. Anexpansion spring I30 on rod I24 is confined between said foot I25 and. apair of nuts I28 at the top of the rod. Tension of said spring may bemodified by means of collar I29 on rod I24 beneath foot I25. It willnowbe seen that upward actuation of section II! of the pivoted bracket II6,under the influence of contraction spring I22, results in downwardmovement of solenoid arm 13, by virtue of the several cooperatingelements just described.

As an aid to smooth forward movement of sheets beneath and past stopmember 16 an idling wheel II3 (Figs. 8 and 9) is mounted, as at II4, onan outward projection II of the bracket I I6. Raising of the stop memberresults in lowering of wheel I I3 against the top surface of thesignature or sheets being carried by rollers 59 and wheels 91, forstabilizing and assuring uninterrupted'movement of the sheets in properstacked order. The contact of wheel II3 against the sheets is of coursesufiiciently light to avoid impeding their movement, and the pressure ofsuch contact may be modified by adjustment of nuts I28 on rod I24 tovary the downward pressure of spring .I30on the adjacent end ofbracket-section H8.

The stacking of unlike sheets or signatures requires that two parallellines of sheets be carried on table 25 for deposit on table 3I wherethey are stacked by stop member 15. For this purpose, as indicated inFigures 3, 4, and 22, an initially large paper sheet I4I, as carried ontable I, is, after being folded at fold section A, divided in halfsections I42 and I43 by a cutter wheel I44fixed 'on the shaft I4. Thehalf section I42 is deposited at once on rollers 29 of table 25, ismoved into contact with a shortened form of guide bar I45 and is carriedtoward table 3| by the rollers 29. The other half section I43 of thesheet, as it is divided ofi by the cutter I44, instead of beingdepositied at once on rollers 29, is takenon by a pair of belts I46which pass around and are moved by shaft I4 and extend at a diagonal(see Fig. 22) across the table 25 and around a pair of idling rollersI41 positioned for this purpose on table 25. Adjacent this side of thelatter, a longer guide bar I48 is placed above rollers 29. The belts I46pass beneath this bar which stops-further transverse movement of sheetsection I43, whereupon rollers 29 assume control of said sheet sectionand carry it toward table 3|. Thus two separate parallel lines of sheetsor signatures are advanced to the table 3 I. The switch unit 41, in thisoperation, is associated with table 3 I, adjacent one end of the guidebar 35in such position that each sheet section I42 passes beneath thetrip lever 30, as will be seen in Figure 4. The initial sheet sectionI42 is advanced at once to and held by the solenoid stop unit 32,reaching it before the other sheet section I43, so that the latter isdeposited on and then moved into registration with the sheet sectionI42. The stop member 16 remains closed until the next sheet section I42enters beneath the switch lever whereupon solenoid stop unit 32 isenergized and stop member 16 raised for releasing the stackedsignatures. The succeeding sheet section I42 then passes under switch 30causing the stop unit to return to blocking position. This-sequence ofoperation, once established, continues during the handling of unlikesignatures.

As mentioned earlier, the operation of solenoid 32 and its plunger orarm, to which stop member 16 is attached, is controlled by the switch 41as tripped by switch lever 30. The latter is, in turn, actuated by papersheets passing therebeneath. When identical sheets or signatures areoperated on, switch unit 41 is positioned on guide bars 28 on table 25,as shown in Figures 1 and 2. When unlike signatures are operated on-thatis, signatures which must be stacked in alternating, as distinguishedfrom successive order-the switch unit 41 is positioned on the guide barof table 3I, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. In the case of like signatures,the stop member 16 is opened only by alternate sheets passing underswitch lever 30, whereas, with unlike signatures, stop member 16 isopened every time a sheet passes under switch lever 30.

To facilitate positioning and conditioning of the related parts for theoperations described, a selector switch unit I33 is utilized, placedconveniently at one end of table 3I. This switch has suitable plug-inconnections with the sheetactuated switch unit 41 andwith the stop unit32. As indicated more particularly in Figures 15 and 21, the selectorswitch unit comprises a selector switch I34'connected as at'l35 with thesheet-actuated switch unit 41. Selector switch I34 includes a pair ofcontacts I36 and I31. When unlike signatures are being folded andstacked, the contact I31 is closed manually. Thereafter, upon closing ofswitch 41 by a sheet, a relay I38, connected as at I39, with saidcontact I31, energizes the solenoid H and operates the associated stopmember 16, through the electrical connection I between said relay andsolenoid.

When like signatures are being folded, switch I34 is manually moved tocontact I36 and when a sheet thereafter closes switch 41, current flowsthrough line I49 to a selector switch solenoid I50 connected, by linesI5I, I52, and I53, with solenoid unit H of which stop member 16 forms apart. Simultaneously, current flows from contact I36 through line I54 toa contactor arm I55 of a breaker unit I56 constituting an element of theselector switch unit I33. In this connection, reference is made toFigures 15 through 21. The breaker unit I 56 and elements cooperatingtherewith are shown as mounted on a support plate I62 (Fig. 17). Saidunit I56 comprises a second arm I51 in resilient contact, throughbreaker points I58, with arm I55. Current passes through these points,when the latter are closed, to a contactor I59 (Fig. 17) provided on aratchet wheel I60 which is mounted on a studshaft I6I fixed to a wallplate I62. The latter likewise has fixed thereon in quadrangular spacedrelation (Figs. 17,' 18, and 21) a set of four selector switchcontactors I63, adapted to be contacted successively by contactor I59 ofthe ratchet wheel I60, as the latter is rotated. Current thereforepasses from contactor I59 into the adjacently-disposed one of theselector switch corner? contactors 1'63. The latter areelectricallyinte'rconnected, as indicated inFi'gure 21 at I64; T65,

15 and 16'): which comprises aniarm [68 and link:

l'filt'norm-ally urged in one direction (to the right as seen in Fig.15')" by a spring] 10' positioned'as at fi l in switch unit 133. As'egmentmemberlTl'is' pivotally mounted as at I13 on ratchet shaft 116!and'is pivotally connected at an upper corner extremity, as at. I14,with the outer end ofv link I69. The segment member carries a. pawl I15adapted to engage the ratchet wheel teeth for rotating the Wheel, in. astep by step mannentothe left (see Fig. 16') when solenoid arm IE8 isactuated in that direction For further. controlling such actuation orthe ratchet wheel, the latter may be provided. on. its face with spacedsockets I l! (Figs.v l7 and 1.8). into which, in succession, apin I18-enters, said pin projecting, rearwardly from the top part ofresilient,arm [51; The-segment member I12 has. projecting from its, hub portion a.separator element I'TB' which, whenv segment member I12 is returned-to.the right by the action of spring. ll tl,.'as inFigur-es 15 and-'20,enters-between the upper ends of resilient contactor arms I55 and I151andsepareites the breaker points I58. Upon-- energizing of solenoid,['50) the solenoid. arm

I58 and segment member I112. are. moved to the left (Figs. 16. and 19)and the. separator element 176' moves upwardly to permit contactofbreaker points I58,

The, solenoid arm. it has a length of stroke equal to one-eighth of arevolution of ratchet wheel I60. The tour selector switch contactors I63are so located that at alternate strokes of solenoid arm I68 a circuitis completed through ratchet wheel. contactor I 9., as alreadydescribed. While. theratchet wheel ismoved with eachstroke of arm. L69,the circuit for. opening stop member 1B. isv not. closed until contactis. made between ratchetwheel contactor i=5'9 an-done of the spacedselector switch: contactors 1.63. Thus in. the stacking of like sheetsor signatures, two of the latter are conveyed to the lowered stop.member Iiibefore itis opened to release position.

Modifications, such as for the purpose of. stacking, agreater number ofsignatures before release by stop memberlfi, and other modifications ofstructure and operation, will be readily apparent to those acquaintedwith the field. Such changes are considered to be comprised within thespirit and scopeof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a paper, sheet carrier and means for themovement thereon of sheets in spaced linear-succession, of a stopadjacent the carrier and movable into and out of the path of the sheetsfor blockin advance of sheets prior to discharge thereof from thecarrier; and an actuator for said stopand comprising an arm projectinginto thepath of the'she'ets in advance of the st-ojp and adapted to-becontacted by the sheets for actuating the stop into positions foralternately" blocking and releasing sheets carried bythe carrier;

2. The combination with a paper sheet carrier.

and. means for the movement thereon of. sheets.

in spacedlinear-succession, of'an electricailyactua'tedi stop" a-djacent' the, carrier and. movable. into and. out of the path of. thesheets .for blocking advance ofsheets prior to-d'ischar'g thereof fromthe carrier and an electric switch for controlling the stop andcomprising an arm projecting into:

the path ofthe, sheets in advance of. the stop and adapted tobecontacted by the sheetsfor .actuating the step into positions foralternately blockingand releasingsheets carried'by the carrier.

3'. The combination with a. paper sheet carrier and meansIfor the,movement. thereon ofsheets in spaced linear'succession, of. anelectrically actuated stop adjacent the carrier and movable into and outof the. path of the-sheets for blocking advan-cc of sheets prior todischarge thereof from the carrier; an electric switch for controllinthe stop. and comprising an arm projecting into the path of the sheets.in advance of the stop and adapted to be. contacted by the sheets foractuating. the. stop, and means for retaining the stop in.positiontoblock advance of one sheet until the following, sheethasbeenadvancedtothe stop.

4'. The combination with a paper sheet carrier and means for themovement thereon of sheets in. spaced linear succession, of anelectrically actuated stop adjacent. the carrier and movable into andout oft'he path of the sheets for blocking advance of sheets. prior todischarge thereof from the carrier; an electric switch for control--ling the. stop' andv comprising an arm projecting into. the path of. thesheets in advance of the stops-and adapted to be contacted by' thesheets for. actuating the stop, means for disposin the stop. in positionto block advance of t-hersheets, means for advancing the sheet followinga blocked sheet into overlying position on the blocked. sheet, and meansfor raisingthe-stop torelease the stacked sheets to the action-of: the.carrier.

5. The combination with means for performeing a. series of operations onpaper sheets and intervening carriers for moving the sheets-insuccession from one operation to the next, of an electrically-operatedstop adjacent one of the carriers and movable into and out of the pathof the sheets .for blocking advance of sheets prior to discharge thereoffrom the carrier; and an elec tric. switch positioned adjacent thepreceding carrier and comprising an arm projecting intothe pathofv thesheets and adapted to be con-- ta'cted' thereby for alternatelyactuatingthestopto open and closed positions for respectively releasingand blocking sheets advanced thereto by the associated. carrier.

6. The combination with a paper sheet carrier, a cross carrierassociated therewith, means for delivering sheetsfrom the first carrierto the cross carrier, and means'for holdingto a fixed line the sheetsdelivered to the cross carrier, of means associated" with the firstcarrier to dispose sheets thereon for movement along two parallel linesand in spaced staggered relation, the sheets of one line being presentedfor delivery to the cross carrier at" a point relatively remote from thedischarge end thereof and the sheets of the second line at a pointrelatively adjacent said. end, anelectrically-actuated stop on the crosscarrier located' beyond the point of'clelivery thereto ofthe sheets ofsaid second line, the stop beingadapted to be moved into and out of thepath of the sheets, and an electric switch for controlling the stop. andcomprising an arm projecting. into-the path. of said remotely-delivered.sheets and contacted in. succession thereby for actuating the. stop,release of the arm from each contact effecting actuation of the stop toposition for blocking advance of the actuating sheet and such actuationcoinciding with delivery of a, sheet from said second line onto theblocked sheet, and means for moving the overlying sheet into contactwith the stop and registry with the under sheet, said stop beingactuated for release of the stacked sheets by initial contact with saidam of the next-in-order of said remotely-delivered sheets.

7. A machine for insert-folding of paper sheets and comprising a sheetcarrier, a cross carrier associated therewith, means for deliveringsheets from the first carrier to the cross carrier,

means for holding to a fixed line the sheets delivered to the crosscarrier, means associated with the first carrier to dispose sheetsthereon for movement along two parallel lines and in staggered relation,the sheets of one line being presented for delivery to the cross carrierat a point relatively remote from the discharge end thereof and thesheets of the second line, at a point relatively adjacent said end, anelectrically-actuated stop on the cross carrier located beyond the pointof delivery of the'sheets of said second line, said stop being adaptedto be moved into and out of the path of the sheets, an electric switchfor controlling the stop and comprising an arm projecting into the pathof said remotely-delivered sheets and contacted in turn by each of saidsheets for actuating the stop, release of the arm from such contactserving to actuate the stop into position for blocking advance of thesheet and such actuation coinciding with delivery of a sheet from saidsecond line onto the blocked sheet, means for moving the overlying sheetinto complete register with the under sheet, said stop being raised forrelease of the stacked sheets by initial contact with said arm of thenext-in-order of said remotely-delivered sheets, and means for foldingthe release stacked sheets into inserted relation one to the other.

,8. The combination with a paper sheet carrier, means for deliveringsheets thereto in spaced succession, a cross carrier associated with thefirst carrier, means for delivering sheets in spaced succession from thefirst carrier to the cross carrier, and means for holding to a fixedline the sheets carried on the respective carriers, of anelectrically-actuated stop on the cross carrier and movable into and outof the path of the sheets, and an electric control switch positioned onthe first carrier and comprising an arm projecting into the path of thesheets and contacted thereby for actuating the stop, release of the armfrom contact by a sheet serving to actuate the stop for blocking advanceof the sheet last-delivered to the cross carrier, said stop beingpositioned for blocking said sheet at a location to effect depositionthereon of the next-delivered sheet, and means for moving the overlyingsheet into register with the under sheet, the stop being raised forrelease of the stacked sheets by initial contact of a sheet on the firstcarrier with said arm.

9. The combination with a paper sheet carrier, means for deliveringsheets thereto in spaced succession, a cross carrier associated with thefirst carrier, means for delivering sheets in spaced succession from thefirst carrier to the cross carrier, and means for holding to a fixedline the sheets carried on the respective carriers, of anelectrically-actuated stop on the cross carrier and movable into and outof the path of the sheets, and an electric control switch positioned onthe first carrier and comprising an arm projecting into the path of thesheets and contacted thereby for actuating the stop, release of the armfrom contact by a sheet serving to actuate the stop for blocking advanceof the sheet last-delivered to the cross carrier, said stop beingpositioned for blocking said sheet at a location to efiect depositionthereon of the next-delivered sheet, means for moving the overlyingsheet into register with the under sheet, the stop being raised forrelease of the stacked sheets by initial contact of a sheet on the firstcarrier with said arm, and means associated with the stop and the switchto provide for release-actuation of the stop by intermittent sheets onlyof the sheets on the first carrier to provide a time interval for saidregistering of sheets on the cross carrier.

10. The combination with a paper sheet carrier, means for deliveringsheets thereto in spaced succession, a cross carrier associated with thefirst carrier, means for delivering sheets in spaced succession from thefirst carrier to the cross carrier, and means for holding to a fixed linthe sheets carried on the respective carriers, of anelectrically-actuated stop on the cross carrier and movable into and outof the path of the sheets, and an electric control switch positioned onthe first carrier and comprising an arm projecting into the path of thesheets and contacted thereby for actuating the stop,'re1ease of the armfrom contact by a sheet serving to actuate the stop for blocking advanceof the sheet last-delivered to the cross carrier, said stop beingpositioned for blocking said sheet at a location to effect depositionthereon of the next-delivered sheet, means for moving the overlyingsheet into register with the under sheet, the stop being raised forrelease of the stacked sheets by initial contact of a sheet on the firstcarrier with said arm, and a selector switch interposed between the stopand the switch to provide for release-actuation of the stop byintermittent sheets only of the sheets on the first carrier to provide atime interval for said registering of sheets on the cross carrier.

11. The combination with a paper-sheet carrier table, of anelectrically-actuated stop movable into and out of the path of sheetscarried on the table for respectively blocking and releasing the sheets,a switch controlling said stop and positioned on the table in advance ofthe stop, said switch being adapted to be actuated by the moving sheetsfor operating the stop, and a selector switch unit associated with saidstopcontrolling switch and comprising manually-set means operative onsaid stop and adapted in one position to effect actuation of the switchby successive sheets and in another position by alternate sheetscontacting said switch.

KENNETH M. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 269,159 Crowell Dec. 12, 1882801,991 King Oct. 17 1905 1,015,716 Seymour Jan. 23, 1912 1,165,911Seymour Dec. 28, 1915 1,802,775 Palmer Apr. 28, 1931 1,831,245 HitchcockNOV. 10, 1931 1,836,213 Werner Dec. 15, 1931 2,190,413 Davidson Feb. 13,1940 2,240,424 Spiess Apr. 29, 1941 2,414,059 Powers Jan. 7, 19472,506,550 Morrison May 2, 1950

